NRA Ad Urges Daschle to Support Gun Bill

SHARON THEIMER

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, May 19, 2003

Associated Press Writer

Freed for the moment from restrictions on political ads, the National Rifle Association says it will air an advertisement urging Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to support legislation shielding gun dealers from lawsuits.

The NRA said it would run the radio ad as early as Wednesday, two days after a federal court blocked a ruling that the group believed put its ability to run such commercials in jeopardy.

At issue are interest group ad restrictions in the nation's new campaign finance law. Several groups, including the NRA, have sued to overturn them, arguing they violate free-speech rights.

The law bars a variety of interest groups, including those funded with corporate or union money, from running ads mentioning federal candidates in their districts within 30 days of a primary and 60 days of a general election.

The three-judge panel handling the case struck that down earlier this month as unconstitutional.

However, the judges upheld backup rules barring such groups from airing ads that promote, support, attack or oppose a candidate at any time. The NRA said that jeopardized its ability to run ads urging members of Congress to support legislation that would shield gun dealers from lawsuits if their products are used in crimes. It also opposes the 30-60 day restrictions, but said those were better for now because no election is imminent.

The court on Monday said it would stay its ruling pending Supreme Court appeals in the case. That put the 30-60 rule back into effect.

The NRA said the stay will allow it to run ads such as the one planned in South Dakota. The ad urges Daschle to vote for the gun liability legislation and criticizes Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for opposing it. Both Daschle and Schumer are up for re-election next year.

The NRA said Monday that it planned to air a similar ad in Arizona urging Republican Sen. John McCain to back the legislation and criticizing Schumer's position. An NRA spokesman said Tuesday that the group has decided against running the Arizona ad but may run ads targeting other members of Congress on the issue.